OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Minneapolis, MN 55449

Minneapolis: median income $131,832, home value $438,300, $195/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lake Saint Louis, MO 63367 95%457$137,648$409,100$183 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Swedesboro, NJ 08085 93%981$134,762$384,500$225 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller
O Fallon, MO 63368 93%461$124,297$349,200$177 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Fort Mill, SC 29715 92%953$109,689$448,100$225 Very close on everything we compare
Pickerington, OH 43147 91%643$126,534$348,300$185 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Noblesville, IN 46062 91%506$120,100$382,500$175 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Lees Summit, MO 64064 91%431$117,674$389,000$184 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Sachse, TX 75048 91%863$131,087$407,200$181 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Middletown, DE 19709 90%974$132,956$470,900$205 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Severn, MD 21144 90%940$136,684$483,700$239 pricier homes ($45K more) · older homes
Fort Mill, SC 29707 90%957$118,295$470,600$217 pricier homes ($32K more) · older residents
Spanish Fort, AL 36527 90%1,040$120,189$389,000$186 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Avon, OH 44011 90%617$135,915$395,900$219 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Canton, MI 48188 90%524$122,781$384,700$192 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Hudsonville, MI 49426 90%396$112,234$371,200$214 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Hudson, WI 54016 90%26$113,085$452,000$224 Very close on everything we compare
South Jordan, UT 84009 90%998$137,922$606,500$233 pricier homes ($168K more)
Louisville, KY 40245 89%620$122,948$445,300$182 Very close on everything we compare
Maineville, OH 45039 89%610$108,794$327,200$196 cheaper homes ($111K less)
Westfield, IN 46074 89%503$126,724$437,100$195 Very close on everything we compare
Byron Center, MI 49315 89%406$113,346$382,100$225 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Bartlett, IL 60103 89%333$133,793$379,000$232 cheaper homes ($59K less) · older homes
Oswego, IL 60543 89%342$119,371$343,800$206 cheaper homes ($95K less) · 6 min longer commute
Lees Summit, MO 64082 89%441$131,453$411,700$193 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Virginia Beach, VA 23456 88%1,065$130,533$474,700$251 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · more single-family homes

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.